Cockerell B. auteur aut IRD Pressey R.L. auteur aut IRD Grech A. auteur aut IRD Alvarez-Romero J.G. auteur aut IRD Ward T. auteur aut IRD Devillers Rodolphe auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf born digital access In 2012, Australia proclaimed a national marine protected area (MPA) system - the National Representative System of MPAs (NRSMPA). Following a change in federal government, the system underwent two major re-visions: an independent review released in 2015, and a final plan designed by the Director of National Parks implemented in 2018. We used all three iterations of the NRSMPA, from 2012 to 2018, to compare: 1. the MPA zoning composition, using IUCN protected area categories; 2. the achievement of goals for representing bio-physical features; and 3. the potential to mitigate threats to biodiversity from commercial fishing and offshore petroleum extraction. We found that protection levels in the NRSMPA were downgraded in 2018, compared to 2012 and 2015 iterations. Although each iteration met its qualitative goals, the lack of quantitative goals meant that representation of biophysical features was highly uneven and dominated by MPAs offering little protection against the impacts of extractive uses. Moreover, existing areas with value for pelagic longlining, demersal trawling, and offshore petroleum extraction were largely avoided by MPAs, irrespective of their biophysical features. MPAs, especially those with high protection, resulted in little forgone fisheries catch and revenue, likely providing few safeguards for species threatened by fishing. Changes in the NRSMPA over time have left more areas open to fishing, particularly pelagic fishing and notably in the Coral Sea. By focusing on meeting poorly defined representation goals instead of threat reduction, changes to the NRSMPA over time have increased the exposure of Australia's marine biodiversity to known threats. specialized MER DE CORAIL PACIFIQUE AUSTRALIE 082ECOSYS 040SOCPEC02 096ENERG 036MILMAR 252 108813 [21 ] 2020 0006-3207 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010082447 10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108813 0006-3207 [F B010082447] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010082447 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/2021-07/010082447.pdf Accès réservé (Intranet de l'IRD) IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2021-07-19 2025-02-24 fdi:010082447 fre